Getting famous is all about who you know...

Just so you know that helping you build a stronger web presence and business is never far from my mind, I’ve been thinking A LOT about affiliate marketing and collaboration here. Really! And why, might you ask? Because it’s everywhere, that’s why.

Whenever a vendor can’t help us on this trip, from an overbooked masseuse to a full guest house, they are quick to offer help. “Perhaps you should contact my friend over at Nam Souk guest house,” they say, then they get right on the phone and start making calls for you.

At first I thought it was just typical Southeast Asian kindness (it is a land of STERLING manners and sweet, genuine smiles.) But then I realized these guys are all heavily networked. The guest houses all have referral deals with eachother, and that extends to travel agents (“Tell them I sent you”), tuk tuk drivers (“Need a ride to that museum? Let me call a friend”), and even … yes … masseuses. (“I know best masseur in Luangprabang – personal friend – I call for you!”) There is always a small extra in fee tacked on to the usual price, I noticed, when you hire the friend through them. That would be their commission. And boy … are these guys good at gracefully sniffing out opportunities.

The Western ‘fareng’ is seen understandably as the rich, cash-ready, easy spender who will help these countries out of their poverty. And everyone is standing by ready to help at ANY opportunity. Even finding a pharmacy was a potential affiliate moment. I’ve also learned these aren’t always the best referrals – quality isn’t really a consideration – so we’ve taken to just plain walking around to find the best tuk tuk and guest house deals.

Meanwhile, we’ll see if the tuk tuk comes to take us to the airport tomorrow – as booked by our friendly travel agent. If not, well we’re out $5 and we’ll walk 50 yards to find a friend of the guest house owner’s up the street.